TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected conditions demanded by Hamas for the release of captives, Western media reported on Sunday.
The development comes hours after the Palestinian group released a report justifying its October 7 strike on Israel.
Palestinian resistance group Hamas acknowledged “some faults” in its October 7 attacks on southern Israel, stating that these actions were a “necessary step” in response to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
In a 16-page report released in both English and Arabic, Hamas justified the attack but admitted challenges due to the rapid collapse of the Israeli security and military system.
Netanyahu while reacting to the Hamas report said in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages, Hamas demands an end to the war, the withdrawal of forces from Gaza and the release of all prisoners.
He said if Israel accepts this, its soldiers have fallen in vain and it won’t be able to guarantee the safety of its citizens.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip has surged to 25,105
Despite Netanyahu’s claim the Palestinian death toll in the war-torn Gaza Strip has surged to 25,105, mostly women and children, whereas 62,681 people have been injured in ongoing relentless Israeli bombardment since October 7.
As Israel intensifies its southward offensive, the renewed bombardment in the north has added to the already devastating toll on the Palestinian territory.
The Gaza health ministry reported that in the past 24 hours alone, 178 Palestinians have been killed in the besieged Gaza Strip.
